𝑀𝑦 𝐽𝐴𝐹𝐹 𝑂𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

Fitzwilliam Darcy is finally ready to propose to Elizabeth Bennet. It has taken him some time to overcome his objections to her status, family, connexions with trade and lack of fortune. As he seeks the perfect opportunity to offer for Elizabeth, he comes across her diary, in amongst the bluebells. He initially thinks it to be a novel and takes it, planning to return it to Elizabeth. When picking up the book he sees his name and cannot resist a glance. Darcy is brought up short by reading Elizabeth’s diary and discovering just how much she despises him. Elizabeth has long disliked Fitzwilliam Darcy, considering him proud, arrogant and devoid of any proper feeling. Her opinions are backed up by the “evidence” of the handsome Mr Wickham. Darcy is heartbroken to read her opinion of him and resolves to answer her allegations by writing a letter in her diary. He knows Mr Wickham to be a scoundrel and debaucher, so must ensure Elizabeth has the knowledge to protect herself and her family. As...

Miss Honora Gregory, daughter of Viscount Greene had been looking forward to her first Season in London. However, several years of difficulties on his estate, left Lord Greene with no money for a Season. Honora’s aunt, Lady Langdon “kindly” offers to take Honora with her to London, but only as a companion. She is a self centred woman, who seems to take great delight in emphasising to Society that Honora is only a companion. Honora meets Lord Crampton, who she finds rude, arrogant and prideful. Robert Crampton is a merchant’s son, who became an Earl due to being the last surviving male in the family.  Unfortunately, his lack of education and previous status have made him anxious about being accepted by the ton. A service to a Duke’s family raises his profile but then it seems to go to his head. Honora has several interactions with Lord Crampton. In her first, she gives him a good set down. As time goes on her blunt honesty gives Robert the push to reflect on his behaviour and try to...

On the day after the Netherfield ball, Mr Bingley and his party quit Netherfield, with no intention of returning. Caroline Bingley hates Hertfordshire and is keen to drag her brother to London. She and friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy persuade Bingley that the woman he loves, does not return his affections. They even suggest, Jane Bennet might marry him to gain security for her family. Darcy is desperate to leave as he is infatuated with Elizabeth Bennet, who he feels is unsuitable to be Mrs Darcy. In London, Darcy continues to battle with his desire versus his duty to family. Eventually, he flees home to Pemberley. Meanwhile, Bingley is miserable and heartbroken. At Longbourn, Jane is heartbroken and tormented by her mother, who won’t stop wailing about Mr Bingley’s defection. On Boxing Day, Mr Bennet becomes ill and takes to his bed, never to leave it. As snow and freezing weather grips the country, Elizabeth takes on managing the estate. When the snow keeps the estate workers away, she tak...

On a foggy All Hallows Eve, Ira and his young colleagues are sent home early so that they can find their way to their homes. Crossing a bridge on his route, he hears a disembodied voice. Already unsettled by the eery effect of the fog, he is startled by the appearance of a black shape. When the shape is revealed to be terrified, desperate woman, Ira wants to help her. So when she jumps into the river, he follows her and brings her to safety. The story she reveals is disturbing. Even more so when it becomes obvious that she is telling the absolute truth. This novella is a compelling Halloween story. The author excels in depicting the eeriness of the fog, the feeling of menace and the sense of being watched. Short, but gripping. I received a free copy of this book via Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own. Amazon review Goodreads review

Silly, flirty, fifteen year old Lydia Bennet is invited to Brighton, a whole town full of soldiers. What could go wrong? Elizabeth Bennet begs her father to cancel the trip. Instead, he finds it amusing to send her along to supervise Lydia. Handsome, charming Lieutenant George Wickham, a former favourite of Elizabeth is also in Brighton. However, Elizabeth has finally understood that he is a duplicitous rake. When she lets him know she is wise to him, he retaliates by targeting Lydia for seduction and ruin. One day she looses track of Lydia. Thinking that she sees Lydia in a crowd boarding a ferry, she is alarmed to see Wickham is also there. She jumps on board but finds no Lydia. Then she walks into Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy and Elizabeth have a tempestuous past. He loves her and proposed to her. Unfortunately, Elizabeth detested him and refused, quite vociferously. Darcy wrote a letter to Elizabeth defending his character and clearing up misinformation provided by Wickham. As a result...

The book follows parallel stories of two characters. In Victorian London, Dr Borthwick develops his practice as a successful accoucheur. Catering to both the desperately poor and increasingly wealthy clients. Unfortunately, Dr Preston, a well established, though less capable accoucheur views Dr Borthwick as a threat. He will use dirty tricks to remove that threat. In Victorian Alnwick, a woman is found on the moor during a thunderstorm. She has no clothes, no money, no name and no memory. She is taken in by the Elliott family. Mary Elliott nurses the woman back to health, giving her the name Joanna. Once recovered, Joanna must work on the farm to repay her debt. Unfortunately, it is run down and the house is a hovel. The living conditions are vile, as is the predatory John Elliott. Joanna is dirty, malnourished, ragged and vulnerable. When Mary goes into labour, Joanna assists. She has midwifery skills and knowledge but no idea where the knowledge came from. She begins to act as midwif...

Fitzwilliam Darcy proposed to Elizabeth Bennet, the woman he loves. Unfortunately, Darcy’s previous haughty, arrogant behaviour had left her with a profound dislike of him. The proposal was ham-fisted at best. In reality, profoundly insulting. Elizabeth’s response was volcanic! She let him know exactly what she thought of him. Darcy handed Elizabeth a letter explaining himself. Particularly, the reason he despises Elizabeth’s friend Wickham (for trying to elope with his 15 year old sister Georgiana). Elizabeth is forced to re-evaluate her opinion of Darcy and comes to realise, too late, that she loves him. The book opens several months later. Elizabeth is packed and ready to leave on holiday, when an express from her aunt details a delay in their trip to Derbyshire. Suddenly at a loose end, she and her sister walk in to town. They come across a well dressed teenage girl, left stranded on a trip to Brighton by her thieving maid. This girl turns out to be Georgiana Darcy who has run away...

Fitzwilliam Darcy, a man of wealth and status, is infatuated with Elizabeth Bennet. Unfortunately, he feels unable to propose due to her vulgar family and lack of both status and fortune. When disaster befalls her family, Elizabeth is forced to seek employment. Darcy offers her the post of companion to his sister, Georgiana. Darcy struggles not to act on his attraction to Elizabeth. She is completely unaware, but gradually falls in love with Darcy, despite his irritating, autocratic ways. Georgiana comes out into society and after a successful Season, becomes engaged. What will happen when Elizabeth’s job comes to an end? Will Darcy declare himself or will he let Elizabeth go? This is an enjoyable variation, but I’m not a big fan of Mr Darcy being portrayed as a rake. He gradually reforms himself but it takes quite some time. The narrator, Pearl Hewitt does a pretty good job. I received a free copy of this audiobook via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views express...

Fitzwilliam Darcy, a man of consequence and riches, is in love with Elizabeth Bennet.  He has overcome his many reservations about the match (her vulgar family, lack of fortune and connexions) and is about to propose. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to him, Elizabeth Bennet is not in love with him. In fact she despises him for his involvement in separating her sister, Jane from his friend, Bingley. As Darcy attempts to propose, the universe steps in to delay him. An escaped Great Dane puppy interrupts. Darcy has a longstanding aversion to the breed. Elizabeth is enchanted and christens her Ruby.   Next day, Darcy looks for another opportunity to speak to Elizabeth. Ruby causes a distraction of a more perilous nature. The gamekeeper feels Ruby can’t be trained, so is planning to destroy her. Elizabeth and Darcy are horrified. Darcy makes a spur of the moment decision to adopt her. This action impresses Elizabeth and makes her start to re-evaluate her view of Darcy. There are further...